tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-510288940796977839.post4914752729939562441..comments2015-02-27T04:22:20.958-08:00Comments on paul gregutt&#39;s washington wine blog – unfined &amp; unfiltered: critical pathPaulGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05409346656762573929noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-510288940796977839.post-71983890243754759192010-09-05T21:01:59.777-07:002010-09-05T21:01:59.777-07:00As a winemaker of very esoteric wines (i.e. I do n...As a winemaker of very esoteric wines (i.e. I do not make red Bordeaux or Chardonnay), I feel slightly nudged to mention that one issue I have with the wine press is the silent treatment.<br />I have occaisionally given wines for review and never heard anything. The obvious reason for this is because that writer did not find the wine of a quality level to review. I have even had press make kind comments and then print nothing. Is it wrong to ask for the (free) advice about the status of a critical opinion? Sometimes a wine that is created for an attribute, shows as a fault to someone. I am not referring to faulty wines, but how would a Sancerre show in a Cali Sauvignon Blanc tasting, or a Gigondas show in a WA state Rhone blend tasting?<br />Do you dislike those queries?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-510288940796977839.post-65000940452293375742010-09-03T14:00:39.270-07:002010-09-03T14:00:39.270-07:00Opinions are like who-who&#39;s, everybody&#39;s g...Opinions are like who-who&#39;s, everybody&#39;s got one and, in the blog era, it doesn&#39;t cost anything to paste it up on the electrical bulletin board.The proliferation of wine blogs has diminished the preceived value of said opinions if simply through the fact of shear numbers. Same goes for wineries. Picasso rocks!.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-510288940796977839.post-52254032963269965832010-09-03T11:01:52.760-07:002010-09-03T11:01:52.760-07:00Great rant, Jo! You are welcome here anytime. I to...Great rant, Jo! You are welcome here anytime. I too get a lot of such invites, as if a free lunch was going to compensate for my time and expertise. Anon - great Picasso story. One of my most major heroes, and a man who never lacked for self-confidence. Dixie, just on your e-mail newsletter you offer a tremendous amount of valuable advice, all free. In fact, maybe too much!PaulGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05409346656762573929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-510288940796977839.post-59625775437871268642010-09-03T10:17:48.415-07:002010-09-03T10:17:48.415-07:00As a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified F...As a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Financial Planner, I am regularly asked for &quot;free&quot; advice. Many times I comply, thinking the amount of time involved is short wih little effort involved.<br /><br />But what really drove home the true value of my knowledge and experience was reading a story about Pablo Picasso.<br /><br />As I recall it, Picasso was having dinner in a restaurant with a friend. A female patron recognized him and walked up to the table. The patron said, &quot;Please draw me something. I&#39;ll pay you any amount you ask&quot;.<br /><br />Picasso took a few moments to draw what amounted to a scribble and said, &quot;That will be $10,000&quot;.<br /><br />The patron was astonished by the amount and replied, &quot;But that only took you a few moments to draw!&quot; <br /><br />And Picasso&#39;s timeless reply was, &quot;No Madam. That took me 40 years&quot;.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-510288940796977839.post-78280906217804691842010-09-03T10:16:23.269-07:002010-09-03T10:16:23.269-07:00I&#39;m always astounded at how many people naivel...I&#39;m always astounded at how many people naively believe they&#39;re up to the task of doing it themselves... like approaching a wine writer with their new product. They must think it&#39;s going to be endearing. <br /><br />A simple consult with a marketing/PR company would have given this brand the advice it needed before it even went to you in a bumbling way. <br /><br />I, too, am always asked for free advice, and give a few tablespoons away... You have to wonder, though, &quot;Where do these people come from?&quot; as you just did. When I call up a professional, I respect/value the person&#39;s time, and know I&#39;ll be billed.<br /><br />I was just asked to drive two hours in one direction to experience a new wine program, for a major hotel chain. Then, when done, I&#39;m supposed to drive home... After drinking and being pitched to for two hours, plus wear and tear on my car, just so I can blog about it (for free for them). So, six hours tied up in doing what they want, another five or six to write it, and my own expenses, and I got what out of it? Not even an overnight (from a hotel, what does it cost them?). I&#39;m obviously not doing this, so I can jeopardizing my career, thank you very much.<br /><br />Thanks for letting me rant somewhere else, besides my own blog, Paul ;^)Jo Diazhttp://www.wine-blog.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-510288940796977839.post-68725965041226293272010-09-03T08:08:32.595-07:002010-09-03T08:08:32.595-07:00Paul, witty and true as ever :) I also get asked ...Paul, witty and true as ever :) I also get asked frequently for free advice. In my work, I&#39;m expected to give a little before potentially being considered receiving so the key is knowing that amount. I have only once made the mistake of commenting on wine quality -- leaving that to the wine critics.Dixie Hueyhttp://www.trelliswineconsulting.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-510288940796977839.post-69633297882572367912010-09-02T11:18:50.742-07:002010-09-02T11:18:50.742-07:00I suspect all professionals whose stock in trade i...I suspect all professionals whose stock in trade is advice run into the same problem. Someone thinks that, because you have no product to which you can point as a result of your labor, you really should offer your service for free upon request. Of course, as you point out, all of us in this situation inevitably find ourselves in a situation where we are inclined to provide the free advice. In my profession, it seems that doing so often leads to the old axiom that no good deed goes unpunished, i.e., either no thanks given or, worse yet, criticism if the advice does not yield the results the recipient hoped for. Over the years, the experience has provided me valuable lessons, mainly how to tactfully say &quot;no.&quot;Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com